Almaty: The Seventh Session of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Working Group on Innovation and Technologies for Sustainable Development was recently convened in Almaty, Kazakhstan. This significant event was organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) alongside the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the primary aim of the event was to bolster regional cooperation in the realm of public service innovation and technology. The gathering provided a platform for promoting policy dialogue on advanced governance, assessing the progress achieved during 2025-2026, and outlining the activities planned for 2026-2027.

A key highlight of the event was the presentation by Semral Aliyev, a representative from the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations of Azerbaijan. Aliyev showcased Azerbaijan's pioneering 'smart' public services, focusing on the 'ASAN Service' model. This model is lauded as a successful example of citizen-oriented governance. Additionally, Aliyev discussed the implementation of AI solutions in public services and introduced the ASAN AI Hub, an open innovation platform.